US20050040399A1 - [thin film transistor array substrate and photolithography process and design of the mask thereof] - Google Patents
[thin film transistor array substrate and photolithography process and design of the mask thereof] Download PDFInfo
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- US20050040399A1 US20050040399A1 US10/708,209 US70820904A US2005040399A1 US 20050040399 A1 US20050040399 A1 US 20050040399A1 US 70820904 A US70820904 A US 70820904A US 2005040399 A1 US2005040399 A1 US 2005040399A1
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- display element
- thin film
- film transistor
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L27/00—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate
- H01L27/02—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier
- H01L27/12—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
- H01L27/1214—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
- H01L27/1259—Multistep manufacturing methods
- H01L27/1288—Multistep manufacturing methods employing particular masking sequences or specially adapted masks, e.g. half-tone mask
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/70425—Imaging strategies, e.g. for increasing throughput or resolution, printing product fields larger than the image field or compensating lithography- or non-lithography errors, e.g. proximity correction, mix-and-match, stitching or double patterning
- G03F7/70475—Stitching, i.e. connecting image fields to produce a device field, the field occupied by a device such as a memory chip, processor chip, CCD, flat panel display
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L27/00—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate
- H01L27/02—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier
- H01L27/12—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
- H01L27/1214—Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate including semiconductor components specially adapted for rectifying, oscillating, amplifying or switching and having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier; including integrated passive circuit elements with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
- H01L27/1259—Multistep manufacturing methods
- H01L27/1296—Multistep manufacturing methods adapted to increase the uniformity of device parameters
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a photolithography process and a design of the mask thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a photolithography process and a design of the mask thereof for reducing the exposure time and eliminate the trace generated by the junction of the exposure process.
- a thin film transistor liquid crystal display is constructed by a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a color filter array substrate and a liquid crystal layer.
- the thin film transistor array substrate is constructed by a plurality of array aligned thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes, in which each of the thin film transistor is connected to a corresponding pixel electrodes.
- Each of the thin film transistors includes a gate, a channel layer, a drain and a source.
- the thin film transistor is generally used as a switch element of a liquid crystal display unit.
- the working principle of the thin film transistor is similar to that of a conventional metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) element having three terminals (a gate, a drain and a source).
- MOS metal oxide semiconductor
- a thin film transistor array substrate is generally manufactured by performing several photolithography and etching process steps.
- the thin film transistor array substrate is manufactured by performing the exposure processes for several times to transform the patterns of a mask to the photoresist layer of a substrate.
- a development process is performed to pattern the photoresist layer.
- another etching process is carried out to etch the film layer of the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask to form the desired pattern of the component.
- the apparatus used for the exposure process includes a substrate stage for holding the substrate, which is capable of performing a two-dimensional movement, and a mask stage for holding the mask having the predetermined pattern and mask stage is capable of providing a two-dimensional movement.
- the pattern of the mask is gradually transferred to the photoresist layer of the substrate by the projection optical system during each step of the movement of the mask stage and the corresponding movement of the substrate stage.
- the conventional exposure process is substantially classified into two types, namely, a one-time projection exposure process, that is, to transfer the whole pattern in the mask to the whole photoresist layer in one projection step.
- the other is the step-and-repeat projection exposure process (or so-called scanning type exposure process), that is, to transfer the pattern in the mask to a portion of the photoresist layer in one projection step, and repeat the step for several times to expose the whole photoresist layer.
- the scanning type the exposure process is more commonly used in the manufacturing process of large-sized liquid crystal display.
- the mask 100 includes the peripheral pattern area 110 having a left-sided pattern area and a right-sided pattern area and a central pattern area 120 .
- the central pattern area 120 includes a plurality of pixel patterns 122 , and a plurality of driving element bonding patterns 124 disposed in a portion of the edge of the central pattern area 120 .
- the peripheral pattern area 110 includes a plurality of pixel patterns 112 and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns 114 . A portion of the edges of both sides of the peripheral pattern area 110 also includes a driving element bonding pattern 116 .
- the patterns of the mask 100 are transferred to the photoresist layer of the substrate by moving the mask 100 and the substrate synchronously and performing one or a plurality of exposure processes to the areas. Then, these patterns are jointed with each other. Finally, the exposure process of the mask of the thin film transistor array substrate is completed.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional thin film transistor array substrate.
- the patterns of the peripheral pattern area 110 are transferred to the photoresist layer (not shown) of the substrate 150 .
- an etching process is performed to etch the film layer using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask, and thus the peripheral element area 110 a of the left and right sides of the substrate 150 is formed.
- Each of the left and right sided of the peripheral element area 110 a includes a pixel structure 112 a , a peripheral circuit 114 a and a driving element bonding area 116 a respectively.
- the pattern of the central pattern area 120 of the mask 100 is transferred to the photoresist layer of the substrate 150 .
- central pattern areas 120 a , 120 b and 120 c of the substrate 150 are formed in the film layer on the substrate 150 .
- the central pattern areas 120 a , 120 b and 120 c include pixel structures 122 a and driving element bonding areas 124 a respectively.
- the pixel structures 122 a of the central pattern areas 120 a , 120 b and 120 c , and the pixel structures 112 a of the peripheral element area 110 a are connected along the junction lines L 1 to L 4 .
- a panel-display area 130 (the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 2 ) is formed. Since the junction lines L 1 to L 4 is located in the panel-display area 130 , a trace along the junction lines L 1 to L 4 may be generated due to the alignment errors of the mask 100 during the exposure processes.
- the advantages are as following: an excellent imaging property can be maintained, and a large-scale exposure area can be achieved without using a large-sized expose device such as a mask and a stage.
- some junction lines in the panel-display area are formed during the exposure processes by using the central pattern area, and the other junction lines in the panel-display area are formed during the transferring of the left and right sided pattern areas of the peripheral element area and that of the central pattern areas. If some alignment errors occur during the alignment of the mask in the exposure process, some traces may be generated along the junction lines in the panel-display area, then the uniformity of the brightness of the whole panel may be reduced.
- the purpose of the present invention is to provide a thin film transistor array substrate and the photolithography process and the design of the mask thereof, in order to solve the issue of the reduction of the uniformity of the brightness due to the alignment errors in the multi-exposure processes.
- the present invention provides a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate, wherein the mask has a display element area and a non-display element area.
- the mask is constructed by, for example but not limited to, a plurality of pixel patterns, a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns and a plurality of stitching pixel patterns.
- the pixel patterns are disposed in the display element area
- the peripheral circuit patterns are disposed in the non-display element area
- the stitching pixel patterns are disposed in the non-display element area adjacent to the display element area.
- the non-display element area is disposed on both sides of the display element area, and a plurality of driving element bonding patterns, for example, can also be disposed at the edge of the display element area.
- the present invention provides a photolithography process.
- a mask for the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided.
- the mask is set above a substrate, wherein a photoresist layer is formed on the substrate.
- the display element area of the mask is blocked, and an exposure process to the photoresist layer by using the non-display element area is performed.
- the non-display element area of the mask is blocked, and at least one or more exposure processes to the photoresist layer by using the display element area is performed.
- a development process is performed to pattern the photoresist layer.
- the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention can be formed.
- the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention has a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area.
- the thin film transistor array substrate is constructed by, for example, a plurality of pixel structures, a plurality of peripheral circuits and a plurality of stitching pixel structures.
- the pixel structures are disposed in the panel-display area, and the peripheral circuits are disposed in the non-panel-display area.
- the stitching pixel structures are disposed in the non-panel-display area, and each of the stitching pixel structures and each of the pixel structures are correspondingly connected in the non-panel-display area.
- the non-panel-display area is disposed at both sides of the panel-display area.
- the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention also includes, for example, but not limited to, a plurality of driving element bonding areas, wherein the driving element bonding areas are disposed at the edges of the panel-display area.
- a plurality of stitching pixel patterns and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns are disposed in the non-display element area but no driving element bonding area is disposed in the non-display element area, and a plurality of pixel patterns are disposed in the display element area.
- a plurality of exposure and development processes to the display element area and the non-display element area of the photoresist layer can be achieved.
- the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is achieved.
- a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate having a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area.
- the TFT array substrate includes, for example but not limited to, a plurality of pixel structures, first stitching pixel structures, peripheral circuits and second stitching pixel structures.
- the pixel structures and the first stitching pixel structures are disposed in the panel-display component, in which the stitching pixel structures are adjacent to the pixel structures.
- the peripheral circuits and the second stitching pixel structures are disposed in the non-panel-display area.
- the first stitching pixel structures of the panel-display component and the second stitching pixel structures of the non-panel-display area are connected in the non-panel-display area.
- the stitching pixel pattern transferred from the non-display element area and the pixel pattern transferred from the display element area are aligned and connected.
- the connection area of the conventional pixel pattern is shifted to a portion outside the panel-display area of the thin film transistor array substrate, in order to reduce the generation of the trace during the connection of the exposure process.
- the non-display element area only includes the peripheral circuit patterns and the stitching pixel structure used for the connection of the exposure process.
- the width occupied by of the non-display element area in the whole mask can be reduced, and the width occupied by the display element area in the whole mask can be increased relatively.
- the time of each exposure process is advantageously reduced to achieve the same display element area of a thin film transistor array substrate in comparison with that of a prior art.
- the throughput of the exposure process is enhanced.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional mask.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional thin film transistor array substrate.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 a to FIG. 4 e are schematic drawings illustrating a photolithography process flow of the thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a flat panel of the thin film transistor array substrate.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- a mask 200 includes a display element area 210 in the middle part of the mask 200 , and a non-display element area 220 in the both sides of the mask 200 .
- the display element area 210 includes, for example, but not limited to, a pixel pattern 212 and a plurality of driving element bonding patterns 214 .
- the non-display element area 220 includes, for example but not limited to, peripheral circuit patterns 222 and stitching pixel patterns 224 , but no driving element bonding patterns.
- the non-display element area 220 may includes a left-sided non-display element area 220 a and a right-sided non-display element area 220 b.
- FIG. 4 a to FIG. 4 e are schematic drawings illustrating a photolithography process flow of the thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the above-described mask 200 is set above a substrate 300 , wherein a film layer 301 is formed on the substrate 300 and a photoresist layer 302 is formed on the film layer 301 .
- the display element area 210 and the right-sided non-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 are blocked, and an exposure process is performed over the photoresist layer 302 using the pattern of the left-sided non-display element area 220 a . Therefore, the pattern of the left-sided non-display element area 220 a of the mask 200 (including the peripheral circuit patterns 222 and the stitching pixel pattern 224 ) is transferred to the photoresist layer 302 .
- the left-sided non-display element area 220 a and the right-sided non-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 are blocked, and a first exposure process is performed over the photoresist layer 302 using the pattern of the display element area 210 . Therefore, the pattern of the display element area 210 of the mask 200 (including the pixel pattern 212 and the driving element bonding patterns 214 ) is transferred to the photoresist layer 302 .
- the pixel pattern image 312 a transferred from the display element area 210 of the mask 200 must be precisely connected and aligned with the stitching pixel pattern image 324 transferred from the left-sided non-display element area 220 a of the mask 200 .
- the left-sided non-display element area 220 a and the right-sided non-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 are blocked, the mask 200 is shifted to the left, and a second exposure process to the photoresist layer 302 is performed using the pattern of the display element area 210 . Therefore, the pattern of the display element area 210 of the mask 200 (including the pixel pattern 212 and the driving element bonding patterns 214 ) is transferred to the photoresist layer 302 .
- the pixel pattern image 312 a transferred from the display element area 210 of the first exposure process must be precisely connected and aligned with the pixel pattern image 312 b transferred from the display element area 210 of the first exposure process.
- the left-sided non-display element area 220 a and the display element area 210 of the mask 200 are blocked, and an exposure process to the photoresist layer 302 is performed by using the pattern of the right-sided non-display element area 220 b . Therefore, the pattern of the right-sided non-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 (including the peripheral circuit patterns 222 and the stitching pixel pattern 224 ) is transferred to the photoresist layer 302 .
- the pixel pattern image 312 b transferred from the display element area 210 of the mask 200 must be precisely connected and aligned with the stitching pixel pattern image 324 transferred from the right-sided non-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 .
- peripheral circuit patterns 322 a stitching pixel patterns 324 a , pixel patterns 312 c , 312 d and driving element bonding patterns 314 a are formed, in which the stitching pixel patterns 324 a are connected with the pixel patterns 312 c and 312 d.
- an etching process is performed to etch the film layer 301 of the substrate 300 to form the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a flat panel of the thin film transistor array substrate.
- the thin film transistor array substrate 400 includes, for example, but not limited to, a substrate 300 , a first pixel structure 412 a , a second pixel structure 412 b , driving element bonding areas 414 , peripheral circuits 422 and stitching pixel structures 424 .
- the first pixel structure 412 a and the second pixel structure 412 b are connected along the junction line A 2 , and a panel-display area 410 (the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 2 ) of the thin film transistor array substrate 400 of the present invention is constructed.
- the stitching pixel structures 424 are connected with the first pixel structure 412 a and the second pixel structure 412 b along the junction line A 1 and A 3 in the non-panel-display area 412 respectively. Therefore, the trace in the panel-display area 410 generated by the alignment errors during the connection of the first pixel structure 412 a and the second pixel structure 412 b with the stitching pixel structure 424 can be avoided.
- the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided for forming the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention.
- the mask of the present invention used for forming the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided with connecting the stitching pixel patterns in the non-display element area with the pixel patterns in the display element area. Therefore, the connection area of the conventional pixel pattern is shifted to a portion outside the display area of the thin film transistor array substrate, in order to reduce the generation of the trace during the connection of the exposure process.
- the non-display element area only includes the peripheral circuit patterns and the stitching pixel structure used for the connection of the exposure process.
- the area occupied by of the non-display element area in the whole mask can be reduced, and the area occupied by the display element area in the whole mask can be increased relatively.
- the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention it is advantageous that less exposure time for each exposure is required to achieve the same display element area of a thin film transistor array substrate in compared to that of a prior art.
- the throughput of the exposure process is enhanced.
- the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate is accomplished by a one step process in the whole process of manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate.
- the whole process of manufacturing the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention includes a plurality of exposure processes by using a plurality of masks, and a plurality of development and etching processes.
- the exposure process of the present invention is not only limited in the manufacturing of a thin film transistor array substrate, but also can be provided for the manufacturing process of a variety of semiconductor or microelectromechanical systems (MES) components incorporated with an improved design of mask.
- MES microelectromechanical systems
Abstract
A thin film transistor array substrate, a photolithography process and a design of a mask thereof are provided. A photoresist layer is formed on a substrate, and a mask is set above the substrate. Then, the display element area of the mask is blocked in order to perform the exposure process to the photoresist layer. After that, the non-display element area of the mask is blocked in order to perform the exposure process to the photoresist layer. Finally, a development process is performed to pattern the photoresist layer. Wherein a plurality of pixel patterns is formed in the photoresist layer corresponding to the display element area, and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns and a plurality of stitching pixel pattern are formed in the photoresist layer corresponding to the non-display element area. Moreover, each one of the stitching pixel patterns is connected to the corresponding pixel patterns.
Description
- This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 92122605, filed Aug. 18, 2003.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention generally relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a photolithography process and a design of the mask thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a photolithography process and a design of the mask thereof for reducing the exposure time and eliminate the trace generated by the junction of the exposure process.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- In general, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) is constructed by a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a color filter array substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The thin film transistor array substrate is constructed by a plurality of array aligned thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes, in which each of the thin film transistor is connected to a corresponding pixel electrodes. Each of the thin film transistors includes a gate, a channel layer, a drain and a source. The thin film transistor is generally used as a switch element of a liquid crystal display unit. The working principle of the thin film transistor is similar to that of a conventional metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) element having three terminals (a gate, a drain and a source).
- A thin film transistor array substrate is generally manufactured by performing several photolithography and etching process steps. In other words, the thin film transistor array substrate is manufactured by performing the exposure processes for several times to transform the patterns of a mask to the photoresist layer of a substrate. Next, a development process is performed to pattern the photoresist layer. Then, another etching process is carried out to etch the film layer of the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask to form the desired pattern of the component.
- In general, the apparatus used for the exposure process includes a substrate stage for holding the substrate, which is capable of performing a two-dimensional movement, and a mask stage for holding the mask having the predetermined pattern and mask stage is capable of providing a two-dimensional movement. When the exposure process is performed, the pattern of the mask is gradually transferred to the photoresist layer of the substrate by the projection optical system during each step of the movement of the mask stage and the corresponding movement of the substrate stage. The conventional exposure process is substantially classified into two types, namely, a one-time projection exposure process, that is, to transfer the whole pattern in the mask to the whole photoresist layer in one projection step. The other is the step-and-repeat projection exposure process (or so-called scanning type exposure process), that is, to transfer the pattern in the mask to a portion of the photoresist layer in one projection step, and repeat the step for several times to expose the whole photoresist layer. In recently years, in order to enlarge the display area of a liquid crystal display, the scanning type the exposure process is more commonly used in the manufacturing process of large-sized liquid crystal display.
- In general, a conventional mask used in a scanning type exposure process of a thin film transistor array substrate is illustrated in
FIG. 1 . As shown inFIG. 1 , themask 100 includes theperipheral pattern area 110 having a left-sided pattern area and a right-sided pattern area and acentral pattern area 120. Thecentral pattern area 120 includes a plurality ofpixel patterns 122, and a plurality of drivingelement bonding patterns 124 disposed in a portion of the edge of thecentral pattern area 120. In addition, theperipheral pattern area 110 includes a plurality ofpixel patterns 112 and a plurality ofperipheral circuit patterns 114. A portion of the edges of both sides of theperipheral pattern area 110 also includes a drivingelement bonding pattern 116. Thereafter, the patterns of themask 100 are transferred to the photoresist layer of the substrate by moving themask 100 and the substrate synchronously and performing one or a plurality of exposure processes to the areas. Then, these patterns are jointed with each other. Finally, the exposure process of the mask of the thin film transistor array substrate is completed. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional thin film transistor array substrate. As shown inFIG. 2 , after the exposure process via the patterns of the left and right sides of theperipheral pattern area 110 of themask 100, the patterns of theperipheral pattern area 110 are transferred to the photoresist layer (not shown) of thesubstrate 150. After a development process, an etching process is performed to etch the film layer using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask, and thus theperipheral element area 110 a of the left and right sides of thesubstrate 150 is formed. Each of the left and right sided of theperipheral element area 110 a includes apixel structure 112 a, aperipheral circuit 114 a and a drivingelement bonding area 116 a respectively. In addition, after performing a plurality of exposure processes to thecentral pattern area 120 of themask 100, the pattern of thecentral pattern area 120 of themask 100 is transferred to the photoresist layer of thesubstrate 150. Then, after performing a development process and an etching process using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask,central pattern areas substrate 150 are formed in the film layer on thesubstrate 150. Wherein thecentral pattern areas pixel structures 122 a and drivingelement bonding areas 124 a respectively. - Referring to
FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , thepixel structures 122 a of thecentral pattern areas pixel structures 112 a of theperipheral element area 110 a are connected along the junction lines L1 to L4. Finally, a panel-display area 130 (the area surrounded by the dotted line inFIG. 2 ) is formed. Since the junction lines L1 to L4 is located in the panel-display area 130, a trace along the junction lines L1 to L4 may be generated due to the alignment errors of themask 100 during the exposure processes. - Accordingly, in the above-described scanning type exposure process, the advantages are as following: an excellent imaging property can be maintained, and a large-scale exposure area can be achieved without using a large-sized expose device such as a mask and a stage. However, in the above-described scanning type exposure process, some junction lines in the panel-display area are formed during the exposure processes by using the central pattern area, and the other junction lines in the panel-display area are formed during the transferring of the left and right sided pattern areas of the peripheral element area and that of the central pattern areas. If some alignment errors occur during the alignment of the mask in the exposure process, some traces may be generated along the junction lines in the panel-display area, then the uniformity of the brightness of the whole panel may be reduced.
- Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a thin film transistor array substrate and the photolithography process and the design of the mask thereof, in order to solve the issue of the reduction of the uniformity of the brightness due to the alignment errors in the multi-exposure processes.
- As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate, wherein the mask has a display element area and a non-display element area. The mask is constructed by, for example but not limited to, a plurality of pixel patterns, a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns and a plurality of stitching pixel patterns. The pixel patterns are disposed in the display element area, the peripheral circuit patterns are disposed in the non-display element area, and the stitching pixel patterns are disposed in the non-display element area adjacent to the display element area.
- In the design of the mask of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention, the non-display element area is disposed on both sides of the display element area, and a plurality of driving element bonding patterns, for example, can also be disposed at the edge of the display element area.
- According to the above-described design of the mask for the thin film transistor array substrate, the present invention provides a photolithography process. First of all, a mask for the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided. Then, the mask is set above a substrate, wherein a photoresist layer is formed on the substrate. Then the display element area of the mask is blocked, and an exposure process to the photoresist layer by using the non-display element area is performed. Next, the non-display element area of the mask is blocked, and at least one or more exposure processes to the photoresist layer by using the display element area is performed. Finally, a development process is performed to pattern the photoresist layer. Thus a plurality of pixel patterns are formed in the photoresist layer corresponding to the display element area, and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns and a plurality of stitching pixel patterns are formed in the photoresist layer corresponding to the non-display element area. Wherein each one of the stitching pixel patterns is connected with a corresponding pixel pattern. Accordingly, after the above-described exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate, and an etching process of the film layer of the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask are performed, the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention can be formed. The thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention has a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area. The thin film transistor array substrate is constructed by, for example, a plurality of pixel structures, a plurality of peripheral circuits and a plurality of stitching pixel structures. The pixel structures are disposed in the panel-display area, and the peripheral circuits are disposed in the non-panel-display area. In addition, the stitching pixel structures are disposed in the non-panel-display area, and each of the stitching pixel structures and each of the pixel structures are correspondingly connected in the non-panel-display area.
- In the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention, the non-panel-display area is disposed at both sides of the panel-display area. In addition, the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention also includes, for example, but not limited to, a plurality of driving element bonding areas, wherein the driving element bonding areas are disposed at the edges of the panel-display area.
- Accordingly, in the design of the mask of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention, a plurality of stitching pixel patterns and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns are disposed in the non-display element area but no driving element bonding area is disposed in the non-display element area, and a plurality of pixel patterns are disposed in the display element area. Moreover, by performing the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention via a plurality of masks designed by the present invention, a plurality of exposure and development processes to the display element area and the non-display element area of the photoresist layer can be achieved. Finally, after the etching process of the film layer of the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask is performed, the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is achieved.
- In another embodiment of the invention, a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate having a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area is provided. The TFT array substrate includes, for example but not limited to, a plurality of pixel structures, first stitching pixel structures, peripheral circuits and second stitching pixel structures. The pixel structures and the first stitching pixel structures are disposed in the panel-display component, in which the stitching pixel structures are adjacent to the pixel structures. The peripheral circuits and the second stitching pixel structures are disposed in the non-panel-display area. In addition, the first stitching pixel structures of the panel-display component and the second stitching pixel structures of the non-panel-display area are connected in the non-panel-display area.
- Accordingly, in the design of mask and the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention, the stitching pixel pattern transferred from the non-display element area and the pixel pattern transferred from the display element area are aligned and connected. In other words, the connection area of the conventional pixel pattern is shifted to a portion outside the panel-display area of the thin film transistor array substrate, in order to reduce the generation of the trace during the connection of the exposure process. Moreover, in the design of the mask of the present invention, the non-display element area only includes the peripheral circuit patterns and the stitching pixel structure used for the connection of the exposure process. Therefore, the width occupied by of the non-display element area in the whole mask can be reduced, and the width occupied by the display element area in the whole mask can be increased relatively. Thus, when the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided, the time of each exposure process is advantageously reduced to achieve the same display element area of a thin film transistor array substrate in comparison with that of a prior art. Thus, the throughput of the exposure process is enhanced.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
- The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional mask. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating a conventional thin film transistor array substrate. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 a toFIG. 4 e are schematic drawings illustrating a photolithography process flow of the thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a flat panel of the thin film transistor array substrate. - Hereinafter, the design of the mask of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention will be described, and an exemplary embodiment of one of the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate, and the achieved thin film transistor array substrate after the development and etching process of the present invention will be described in more details in accordance with the illustrated figures.
-
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating a design of a mask for a thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 3 , amask 200 includes adisplay element area 210 in the middle part of themask 200, and anon-display element area 220 in the both sides of themask 200. Thedisplay element area 210 includes, for example, but not limited to, apixel pattern 212 and a plurality of drivingelement bonding patterns 214. Thenon-display element area 220 includes, for example but not limited to,peripheral circuit patterns 222 andstitching pixel patterns 224, but no driving element bonding patterns. In addition, thenon-display element area 220 may includes a left-sidednon-display element area 220 a and a right-sidednon-display element area 220 b. -
FIG. 4 a toFIG. 4 e are schematic drawings illustrating a photolithography process flow of the thin film transistor array substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 4 a, first of all, the above-describedmask 200 is set above asubstrate 300, wherein afilm layer 301 is formed on thesubstrate 300 and aphotoresist layer 302 is formed on thefilm layer 301. Then thedisplay element area 210 and the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b of themask 200 are blocked, and an exposure process is performed over thephotoresist layer 302 using the pattern of the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a. Therefore, the pattern of the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a of the mask 200 (including theperipheral circuit patterns 222 and the stitching pixel pattern 224) is transferred to thephotoresist layer 302. - Referring to
FIG. 4 b, the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a and the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b of themask 200 are blocked, and a first exposure process is performed over thephotoresist layer 302 using the pattern of thedisplay element area 210. Therefore, the pattern of thedisplay element area 210 of the mask 200 (including thepixel pattern 212 and the driving element bonding patterns 214) is transferred to thephotoresist layer 302. It is noted that, in thephotoresist layer 302, thepixel pattern image 312 a transferred from thedisplay element area 210 of themask 200 must be precisely connected and aligned with the stitchingpixel pattern image 324 transferred from the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a of themask 200. - Referring to
FIG. 4 c, the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a and the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b of themask 200 are blocked, themask 200 is shifted to the left, and a second exposure process to thephotoresist layer 302 is performed using the pattern of thedisplay element area 210. Therefore, the pattern of thedisplay element area 210 of the mask 200 (including thepixel pattern 212 and the driving element bonding patterns 214) is transferred to thephotoresist layer 302. Moreover, in thephotoresist layer 302, thepixel pattern image 312 a transferred from thedisplay element area 210 of the first exposure process must be precisely connected and aligned with thepixel pattern image 312 b transferred from thedisplay element area 210 of the first exposure process. - Referring to
FIG. 4 d, the left-sidednon-display element area 220 a and thedisplay element area 210 of themask 200 are blocked, and an exposure process to thephotoresist layer 302 is performed by using the pattern of the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b. Therefore, the pattern of the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b of the mask 200 (including theperipheral circuit patterns 222 and the stitching pixel pattern 224) is transferred to thephotoresist layer 302. Moreover, in thephotoresist layer 302, thepixel pattern image 312 b transferred from thedisplay element area 210 of themask 200 must be precisely connected and aligned with the stitchingpixel pattern image 324 transferred from the right-sidednon-display element area 220 b of themask 200. - Referring to
FIG. 4 e, a development process is performed to pattern thephotoresist layer 302. Finally,peripheral circuit patterns 322 a,stitching pixel patterns 324 a,pixel patterns element bonding patterns 314 a are formed, in which thestitching pixel patterns 324 a are connected with thepixel patterns - In the above-described embodiment, by using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask, an etching process is performed to etch the
film layer 301 of thesubstrate 300 to form the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a flat panel of the thin film transistor array substrate. As shown inFIG. 5 , the thin filmtransistor array substrate 400 includes, for example, but not limited to, asubstrate 300, afirst pixel structure 412 a, asecond pixel structure 412 b, drivingelement bonding areas 414,peripheral circuits 422 andstitching pixel structures 424. Thefirst pixel structure 412 a and thesecond pixel structure 412 b are connected along the junction line A2, and a panel-display area 410 (the area surrounded by the dotted line inFIG. 2 ) of the thin filmtransistor array substrate 400 of the present invention is constructed. Moreover, thestitching pixel structures 424 are connected with thefirst pixel structure 412 a and thesecond pixel structure 412 b along the junction line A1 and A3 in the non-panel-display area 412 respectively. Therefore, the trace in the panel-display area 410 generated by the alignment errors during the connection of thefirst pixel structure 412 a and thesecond pixel structure 412 b with thestitching pixel structure 424 can be avoided. - Accordingly, when the design of the mask the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided for forming the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention. The mask of the present invention used for forming the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided with connecting the stitching pixel patterns in the non-display element area with the pixel patterns in the display element area. Therefore, the connection area of the conventional pixel pattern is shifted to a portion outside the display area of the thin film transistor array substrate, in order to reduce the generation of the trace during the connection of the exposure process. Moreover, in the design of the mask of the present invention, the non-display element area only includes the peripheral circuit patterns and the stitching pixel structure used for the connection of the exposure process. Therefore, the area occupied by of the non-display element area in the whole mask can be reduced, and the area occupied by the display element area in the whole mask can be increased relatively. Thus, when the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention is provided, it is advantageous that less exposure time for each exposure is required to achieve the same display element area of a thin film transistor array substrate in compared to that of a prior art. Thus, the throughput of the exposure process is enhanced.
- It is noted that, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the exposure process of the thin film transistor array substrate is accomplished by a one step process in the whole process of manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate. Substantially, the whole process of manufacturing the thin film transistor array substrate of the present invention includes a plurality of exposure processes by using a plurality of masks, and a plurality of development and etching processes. Moreover, the exposure process of the present invention is not only limited in the manufacturing of a thin film transistor array substrate, but also can be provided for the manufacturing process of a variety of semiconductor or microelectromechanical systems (MES) components incorporated with an improved design of mask.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (8)
1.-3. (cancelled).
4. A design of a mask for a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, wherein the mask has a display element area and a non-display element area, the mask comprising:
a plurality of pixel patterns disposed in a display element area;
a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns disposed in a non-display element area; and
a plurality of stitching pixel patterns disposed in a portion of the non-display element area adjacent to the display element an are.
5. The design of a mask of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of driving element bonding patterns disposed at all edge of the display element area.
6. The design of a mask of claim 4 , wherein the non-display element area is disposed at two edges of the display element area.
7. A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate having a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area, comprising:
a plurality of pixel structures, disposed in a panel-display component;
a plurality of peripheral circuits, disposed in a non-panel-display area; and
a plurality of stitching pixel structures, disposed in the non-panel-display area, wherein the stitching pixel structures and the pixel structures are connected in the non-panel-display area.
8. The thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of driving element bonding areas disposed at an edge of the panel-display area.
9. The thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate of claim 7 , wherein the non-display element area is disposed at two edges of the display element area.
10. A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate having a non-panel-display area and a panel-display area comprising:
a plurality of pixel structures, disposed in a panel-display component;
a plurity of first stitching pixel structures, disposed in the panel-display component, wherein the stitching pixel structures are adjacent to the pixel structures;
a plurality of peripheral circuits, disposed in a non-panel-display area; and
a plurality of second stitching pixel strictures, disposed in the non-panel-display area, wherein the first stitching pixel structures of the panel-display component and the second stitching pixel structures of the non-panel-display area are connected in the non-panel-display area.
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TW92122605 | 2003-08-18 | ||
TW092122605A TW591698B (en) | 2003-08-18 | 2003-08-18 | Thin film transistor array substrate and photolithography process and mask design thereof |
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US6917053B2 US6917053B2 (en) | 2005-07-12 |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100128239A1 (en) * | 2006-06-07 | 2010-05-27 | Integrated Solutions Co., Ltd. | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
US20120075612A1 (en) * | 2009-04-03 | 2012-03-29 | Koichi Kajiyama | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
JP2012237933A (en) * | 2011-05-13 | 2012-12-06 | Lapis Semiconductor Co Ltd | Photo mask, exposure method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
US20170101685A1 (en) * | 2006-09-27 | 2017-04-13 | The Chinese University Of Hong Kong | Diagnostic method |
CN111258173A (en) * | 2020-03-23 | 2020-06-09 | 深圳市华星光电半导体显示技术有限公司 | Photomask and exposure method |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TWI402918B (en) * | 2007-11-28 | 2013-07-21 | Au Optronics Corp | Photo-mask and method for manufacturing thin-film transistor substrate |
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US6087648A (en) * | 1997-07-01 | 2000-07-11 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Active matrix display device and method of manufacturing the same |
US6583439B2 (en) * | 1998-05-15 | 2003-06-24 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor device |
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- 2003-08-18 TW TW092122605A patent/TW591698B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2004
- 2004-02-17 US US10/708,209 patent/US6917053B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6087648A (en) * | 1997-07-01 | 2000-07-11 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Active matrix display device and method of manufacturing the same |
US6583439B2 (en) * | 1998-05-15 | 2003-06-24 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor device |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100128239A1 (en) * | 2006-06-07 | 2010-05-27 | Integrated Solutions Co., Ltd. | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
US8451426B2 (en) * | 2006-06-07 | 2013-05-28 | V Technology Co., Ltd. | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
US20170101685A1 (en) * | 2006-09-27 | 2017-04-13 | The Chinese University Of Hong Kong | Diagnostic method |
US20120075612A1 (en) * | 2009-04-03 | 2012-03-29 | Koichi Kajiyama | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
US8982321B2 (en) * | 2009-04-03 | 2015-03-17 | V Technology Co., Ltd. | Exposure method and exposure apparatus |
JP2012237933A (en) * | 2011-05-13 | 2012-12-06 | Lapis Semiconductor Co Ltd | Photo mask, exposure method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
CN111258173A (en) * | 2020-03-23 | 2020-06-09 | 深圳市华星光电半导体显示技术有限公司 | Photomask and exposure method |
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TW591698B (en) | 2004-06-11 |
US6917053B2 (en) | 2005-07-12 |
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